Milwaukee is a great city for music. Between Summerfest, Turner/Pabst/Riverside concert venues and the Rave, there is always something going on. However, sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone and experience new things. That’s why when I was given the opportunity to move to LA for the summer and intern for Red Bull Records, I jumped at the chance.

I slowly realized that moving was going to be difficult for me since I had never been so far away from home for so long. There was so much to plan. Accommodations, transportation, wardrobe, money… the list seemed never-ending. I was moving to an unfamiliar city far away from everyone I loved, and I was completely scared out of my mind.

I’m one month into my internship and I’m fairly settled in. Things fell into place: my roommate/fellow intern and I are in corporate housing in a great part of town and we take the bus to and from work everyday. The people at the RBR office are all extremely nice and welcoming. I don’t mind the long hours because I love the atmosphere of the office. I’m learning so much, and I still have another month ahead of me.

Had I decided to play it safe and stay in Milwaukee for the summer (as I have every other year), I would have never experienced any of this. This industry is all about taking risks, and I’m slowly learning that it’s not such a bad thing. I’m proving to myself that I can overcome any fear I might have.

I’ve come to learn that AWOLNATION’s song “Kill Your Heroes” says it perfectly: Don’t let your fear decide your fate.